Monthly Home Maintenance Projects

Janis sent me this chart of doing one thing a month to help keep your house running smoothly - this is a much better way of making sure these mundane things get done, and only doing one a month keeps it from being too much work. And it would be great to have it done before it's too late (I tend to put off most of these things until something goes wrong and then I'm in panic mode trying to problem solve!).

January ~ Organize your home improvement files. Review warranties and product manuals and get service reminders in your calendar.

February ~ Schedule an energy audit with the utility company. Repairing energy leaks can save significantly on your utility bills all year round.

March ~ Check for moisture in your crawl space, garage, or other storage areas. If you see a problem have a professional resolve it quickly before mold or mildew sets in.

April ~ Clean out rain gutters. Collect leaves and debris for compost and use a garden hose to flush out remaining debris from downspouts.

May ~ Clean your windows. Clean screens by laying them flat and scrubbing with a soft bristle brush. Wash windows inside and out.

June ~ Prepare the patio for summer. Clean and fix outdoor furniture and umbrellas. Inspect and clean your gas grill thoroughly.

July ~  Paint. Tackle either indoor or outdoor projects now, when the weather is warm and the paint will dry quickly.

August ~ Clean major appliances. Use a vacuum with a narrow nozzle to clean your refrigerator's condenser coils. Vacuum behind the washer and dryer and clean under the range hood.

September ~ Check your heating system. Inspect filters, pilot lights and burners, and clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold air returns.

October ~ Make sure your windows and entryways are ready for winter. Carefully inspect weather stripping around doors and windows. Repair or replace as necessary.

November ~ Prepare your kitchen for the holidays. Deep clean your stove, oven and refrigerator. Organize the food pantry and kitchen storage areas.

December ~ Prep for festivities. Then take the rest of the month off. December is busy enough without a maintenance project to worry about. Go ahead - put it off until January.


2.9.17: avocado and eggs on sweet potato toast
2.9.16: "bee-mine" honey bear














Happy moment ~ "wine o'clock"  (aka: just hanging with my bestie)